Book sewing machine



L ZUUBY EEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1952 INVENTOR.BENMM/N Dz/B Y Cu z/ ATTORNEY Jum 23, m5 5. mm fi fi BOOK SEWING MACHINEFiled. Aug. 26, 1.952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. BEMMM/N Due YATTORNEY- June 28, 1955 Filed Aug. 26, 1952 B. DUBY BOOK SEWING MACHINE3 sheets -sheet 3 INVENTOR. ,BEMMM/N D05 Y ATTORNEY United States PatentBOOK SEWING MACHINE Benjamin Duby, New York, N. Y., assignors to H.Wolff Book Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,390

12 Claims. c1. 112-21 This invention relates to a machine for use institching along the edges of a folded signature or group of signaturesto form a book and includes means whereby the stitched books aresuccessively conveyed through the machine and means whereby thestitching threads connecting successive books are automatically cut toseparate the books from each other.

In such machines as heretofore employed, it has been usual to stitch thesignatures through their spines or folds, to bind a single signature orto connect a group of stitched signatures to each other, and it has alsobeen heretofore proposed to employ side stitching close to the foldededges of thesignatures, but in such machines conventional sewingmechanisms each having threads supplied from a spool and from a shuttlehave been employed, and the means for cutting the threads to separateone book from. another have been mechanically actuated by and in timedrelation with the sewing mechanism, with the result that high-speedproduction has not been found possible.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which thebooks are conveyed in spaced relation to each other and connected by thestitching threads in combination with feeler mechanism actuated by themoving books for severing the connecting threads.

Another object is to provide the machine with sidestitching mechanism ofthe type in which two bobbins are provided to furnish the stitchingthreads without the use of shuttles, so that high-speed production maybe obtained without the necessity for frequent stoppages for shuttlerenewals.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the stitching,thread-cutting and edge-pressing mechanisms in one continuous operation.

With the above and other objects .in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of the parts of the machine ashereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, whichshow, by way of illustration or example, the necessary parts of amachine for the manufacture of books, each comprising three signatures.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a view looking on the upper surface of thesignatures in the machine.

Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe folded edges of the signatures.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a completed book, a delivered by themachine.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, "and showing asignature disposed at 45 to a horizontal plane for conveyance throughthe machine.

Fig. 5 is a corresponding view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 66, Fig.

l, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view taken on the line 77, Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the signatures 10, 11 and 12 are held inthree similar containers or stacks an ranged in line with each otherabove and parallel to the left-hand end of the table 13, and while thesigma angle of about 45 to a horizontal plane as shown at Fig. 4, and aseach group of three signatures is received between the feed rolls 18,19, it is conveyed to the sewing mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 4, each signature is delivered to the inclined table13 by means of a rocking arm 20 having a suction cup 21, by means ofwhich the folded edge of each lowermost signature is bent downwardlyinto position to' be gripped between mechanical jaws 22, 23 carried by arocking arm 24 pivoted at 25. The jaw 23 is integral with the arm 24and. carries a pivot 25 upon which the jaw 22 is mounted and a tailpiece 26 on the jaw 22 is connected by means of a light spring-27 with astationary part and is also connected by means of a cable 28 and heavierspring 29 with a fixed point 30 in such manner that when the arm 24 isin the lower position, as shown in fulllines at Fig. 4, the jaws 22, 23are lightlyheld in their closed posi-.

tion by the spring 27, and as the arm 24 is raised to its upperposition, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines at Fig. 4, the tail piece26 is engaged by a cam device 31 against the action of said spring 27and also against the action of the stronger spring 29, which is putunder tension by the bending of the cable 23 around the hub.

of the arm 24. As the arm 24 is moved downwardly,

the cam 31 releases the tail piece 26 and permits the jaws 22, 23 totightly grip the folded edge of the signature 10 by the action of saidsprings 27, 29, and the said jaws pass though slots 32 in a supportingstrip 33 for receiving the folded edge of the signatures as the latterare deposited upon the inclined ,table.13, and

since, in its lowermost position, the signature is gripped by the jawsonly by reason of the tension of the light spring 27, the engagement ofthe folded edges of the signatures with the strip 33 disengages thesignatures.

from said jaws.

As indicated at Fig. l, the signatures 10 are deposited *on the table 13at the left-hand end thereof, the signatures 11 are deposited upon thesignatures 10, while the signatures 12 are deposited upon the signatures'11, and

each group of three signatures is, in turn, received by the said rolls18, 19 and are conveyed thereby in a substan I tially horizontal pathalong the inclined table 13 with their folded edges lowermost andsupported by the strip 33 and are thus conveyed to the sewing mechanismFig. 5, comprising a needle 34, a feed device 35, and suitable drivemechanism 37. This sewing mechanism is of a known type such as, forexample, the Union Special, in which the stitches are produced by twothreads supplied from two bobbins 36 so that it is unnecessary to use ashuttle, as in certain other types of sewing machines, and the necessarystoppage for shuttle replacement is thus unnecessary.

While each book is still being conveyed by the stitching mechanism, itsleading edge is received and conveyed by pressure rolls 38, 39, whichexert the desired degree of pressure upon the lower folded and stitchedmarginal edges of the book, which is then delivered, as shown'at 40,Fig. 2, to a suitable stack or receptacle, from which the books maybe'conveyed in any suitable or well-known manner to an edge-trimmingdevice to complete the manufacture of the book.

An important feature of the present invention is the location andoperation of the thread-cutting device between the stitching mechanismand the pressure rolls. This device (see Figs. 6 and 7) is actuatedelectrically by means of a spring feeler 41, which normally projectsthrough a gap 42 in the table 13 and engages the under side of thebooks, which are spaced from each other so that each time the trailingedge of a book releases the feeler 41 the said feeler moves into thespace between adjacent books, as shown at Fig. 7, and thus releases aspring-button 43 and so closes an electric circuit 44 and suppliescurrent to a solenoid 45, which is thus actuated against the action of aspring 48 and, through the medium of a link 46, moves a lever 47integral with a shear member 50, which co-operates with a stationaryshear member 49 to cut the threads, and as the leading edge of the nextbook engages and depresses the feeler 41, the button 43 is againdepressed and the circuit 44 is opened so that the shear member 50 ismoved out of the path of the moving book by the action of the spring 48.

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best modein which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be inno way limited to the details of such disclosure, for, in the furtherpractical application of my invention, many changes in form and instructure may be made, as circumstances require or experience suggests,without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for the manufacture of books by sidestitching the edges offolded signatures, comprising a table for supporting closed signaturesin spaced relation to each other, means for stitching the signatures onsaid table along a line spaced from but close to their folded edges withthe stitching threads extending between adja- I cent signatures,mechanical means for conveying the signatures in spaced relation to eachother along said table to said stitching means, electrically actuatedmeans for cutting the stitching threads extending between the spacedsignatures on said table, a gap in said table, feeler means extendingthrough said gap and actuated by the movement of said spaced signaturesupon the table, and an electric switch device operated by said feelermeans for controlling the actuation of said cutting means.

2. A machine for the continuous formation of books by side-stitching theedges of signatures, comprising a table for supporting the signatures,means for transferring signatures to said table to form groups of closedsignatures in spaced relation to each other along said table, stitchingmeans at one edge of said table for stitching the spaced groups ofsignatures along a line spaced from but close to the folded edgesthereof and for conveying said spaced groups longitudinally of thetable, means for cutting stitching threads extending between the spacedgroups, feeler means engaging the groups of signatures moving along saidtable, an electric switch operated by said feeler means, and an electricdevice controlled by said switch for actuating said thread cuttingmeans.

3. A'machine for the manufacture of books by sidestitching the edges offolded signatures, comprising a table for supporting closed signatures,a sewing machine at one edge of the table for stitching the closedsignatures along a line close to the folded edges, means for conveyingthe closed signatures in spaced relation to each other along said tableto said sewing machine, a cutting device for severing stitching threadsextending between the spaced signatures on said table, electrical meansfor actuating said cutting device, feeler means extending through saidtable to engage the spaced signatures, and a switch device operated bysaid feeler means to control said electrical means by the movement ofsaid signatures.

4. A machine for the continuous formation of books by side-stitching theedges of signatures, comprising a table for supporting the signatures,means for transferring a plurality of signatures simultaneously to saidtable to form groups of closed signatures arranged in spaced relation toeach other along said table, stitching means having threads fed from twobobbins for stitching the groups of signatures close to the folded edgesthereof and for conveying the spaced groups along said table, means atone longitudinal edge of said table for cutting stitching threadsextending between spaced groups, feeler means extending through saidtable and engaging the moving groups of signatures, a switch deviceoperated by said feeler means, an electric device controlled by saidswitch device for actuating said cutting means, and rolls mounted at oneedge of the table for applying pressure to the stitched and folded edgesof the books and for conveying such books from the machine.

5. A machine for the manufacture of books by sidestitching the edges offolded signatures, comprising an inclined table and longitudinal ledgefor supporting the signatures in spaced relation to each other, meansfor stitching the signatures along a line close to their folded edgesand for conveying the spaced signatures along said table, said stitchingmeans having threads fed from two bobbins, endless band means forconveying the spaced signatures along said table and ledge to saidstitching means, a gap in said table, a device for cutting stitchingthreads spanning said gap and extending between the spaced signatures onsaid table, an electric device for actuating said cutting device, feelermeans extending into said gap and actuated by the movement of saidsignatures by controlling the actuation of said electric device, androller means mounted on said table for applying pressure to the stitchedmarginal edges of the folded signatures.

6. A machine for the continuous formation of books by side-stitching theedges of closed signatures, comprising a table inclined from side toside for supporting the closed signatures, a ledge at the lower sideedge of the table for engaging the folded edges of the closedsignatures, means for transferring a plurality of signaturessimultaneously to said table and ledge to form groups of closedsignatures in spaced relation to each other at one end of the table,stitching means located at one side edge of said table and havingthreads for stitching the groups of signatures close to the folded edgesthereof and for conveying said groups in spaced relation to each other,a gap in said table, electrically operated means for cutting threadsextending over said gap and between spaced groups of signatures, feelermeans engaged by the moving signatures, and a switch operated by saidfeeler means to control the operation of said cutting means,

7. A machine for the manufacture of books by sidestitching the edges offolded and closed signatures, comprising means for stitching the closedsignatures along a line close to their folded edges, said stitchingmeans having threads fed from two bobbins, a table inclined from oneside edge to the other for supporting the signatures while beingstitched, a ledge on the lower edge of the table for supporting thefolded edges of the signatures, endless band means for conveying thesignatures in spaced relation to each other along said table and ledgeto said stitching means, a gap in said table, an electrical solenoid andshears for cutting threads extending over said gap and between thespaced signatures, feeler means extending into said gap and actuated bythe movement of said signatures for controlling the actuation of saidsolenoid and shears, and means for applying rolling pressure to thefolded marginal edges of the stitched signatures on said table. a

8. A machine for the continuous formation of books by side-stitching theedges of closed signatures, comprising a table for supporting the closedsignatures, a plurality of suction and gripper means for transferring aplurality of closed signatures simultaneously to said table to form onone end of the table groups of signatures in spaced relation to eachother, a sewing machine near one end of one of the side edges of thetable for stitching the groups of closed signatures close to the foldededges thereof and for simultaneously conveying said groups in spacedrelation to each other along the table, a gap in said table, meansmovable into said gap for cutting stitching threads extending betweenspaced groups of signatures, an electric device for actuating saidcutting means, a feeler extending through said gap and actuated by themovement of the spaced signatures, a switch operated by said feeler forcontrolling said electric device, and rolls for applying pressure to thestitched and folded edges of the closed signatures and for receiving andconveying such signatures from the said stitching means.

9. A machine of the type described for the manufacture of side-stitchedbooks from folded and closed signatures, comprising a table disposed atan angle of approximately 45 to a horizontal plane for carrying theclosed signatures in a substantially horizontal path in spaced relationto each other, a ledge extending along the lower part of said table forsupporting the folded edges of the signatures, means located inproximity to one end of the table for delivering folded signatures tosaid table at different points in the length thereof to assemble thesignatures upon each other to form groups in a predetermined spacedarrangement, endless band mechanism with means projecting through thetable for conveying the groups of signatures in spaced relation to eachother along said table, feed rolls above and below the surface of thetable for receiv- 9' ing and conveying said groups of signatures,stitching means receiving said groups from said feed rolls and stitchingthe closed signatures along a line in close proximity to the foldededges while the closed signatures are being conveyed along the table,and means engaging said groups of signatures and actuated by themovement thereof along the table for cutting stitching threads extendingbetween adjacent groups.

10. A machine of the type described for the manufacture of side-stitchedbooks from folded and closed signatures, comprising a table disposed atan angle of approximately 45 to a horizontal plane for carrying theclosed signatures in spaced relation to each other, a ledge stripextending along the lower edge of said table for supporting the foldededges of the signatures, means for simultaneously delivering a pluralityof folded signatures to said table at dilferent points in the lengththereof to assemble closed signatures upon each other to form groups ina predetermined arrangement, an endless band device associated with saidtable for conveying the groups of signatures in spaced relation to eachother in a substantially horizontal path along said table, feed rolls insaid table for receiving and conveying the groups of signatures,stitching means cooperating with said table for receiving said groupsfrom said feed rolls and for stitching the signatures along lines inclose proximity to their lower folded edges, rolls in said table forreceiving the groups of signatures from said stitching means and forexerting pressure upon the stitched and folded edges and for deliveringthe books from the table, a feeler device located in a gap in said tableand actuated by the movement of the groups of signatures, an electricalswitch operated by said feeler device, and an electrical devicecontrolled by said switch for cutting the stitching threads extending between adjacent books.

11. A machine for the continuous manufacture of books from closedsignatures with side-stitching, comprising means for conveying theclosed signatures in a substantially straight path in spaced relation toeach other, including an endless band with fingers for engaging andconveying the spaced and closed signatures, cooperating rolls receivingthe books from said fingers and conveying the books in the same spacedrelationship, a continuously operating sewing machine serving to stitchthe signatures along a line close to one edge and serving to receive thesignatures from said feed rollers and to convey said signatures, a pairof pressure rolls in alignment with the book stitching for receiving thesignatures from the sewing machine and for exerting pressure on thestitched edges of the signatures and for maintaining the spacedrelationship between the signatures, and electrically actuated automaticmeans located between the stitching means and said pressure rolls forsevering stitching threads extending between adjacent signatures, and

a feeler device located in the path of the signatures for controllingthe actuation of said severing means in timed relation to the movementof the signatures.

12. A machine according to claim 11, comprising bob bins forsimultaneously supplying two stitching threads to the said sewingmachine for the operation thereof without the use of a shuttle,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,764,863 Ackley June 17, 1930 2,262,294 Merrifield Nov. 11, 19412,334,265 Hildmann Nov. 16, 1943 2,366,064 Sieb Dec. 26, 1944

